Link for chain grate stokers amd the like



W. J. COLE. LINK FOR CHAIN GRATE STOKERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION menMAR. 30. 1917 1,311,497, 1211 m July 2911919?" WT-v i w M1 44; HI .w

'lllll l 1"?? pf the side flange F constitutes one wall. of

the pocket of the link and the under surface A of the plate Aconstitutes another wall.

One .such box or pocket is therefore formed on each side of the link,and when a number of links are assembled side by side, each pocket, liesopposite a similar box on the under side of the laterally adjacent linkso that the two pockets together form a pocket which is open only on theunder side. It will be seen that these pockets are obtained by suitablyspacing apart the lug B from the lugs C D on each link.

'lhe vertical sides of the link are grooved or fluted as at G, toprovide the requisite passages for the admission of air to the fuel onvtop of the grate.

A hole F may be provided in the flange F of each link to permit lateraldisplacement of any coal which may fall on the chain when inverted; theteeth of the sprockets whereby the chain is driven will then displacesuch coal late ally and binding of the teeth by such collections of coalis thus prevented.

While the link has been described as made in one piece, it will be seenthat according to the illustration it is divided longitudinally on theline H for simplicity in manufacture. The surfaces which abut oneanother on the line H are fluted at H similarly to the flutes Gfor thesame purpose.

Among the advantages of this construction of the link it may be notedthat the boxconstruction enables air to be supplied uniformly all overthe grate so that individual links do not get overheated. The circularshape of the lugs and the way in which they are fitted together in anundercut portion of the f'uel--n-. -eivi1ig plate, prevent any gapsheing created as the chain passes around its supporting drums. The linkis particularly simple in its construction and cheap to manufacture;this is especially the case When each link is made in two parts, and byusing duplicates of these two parts any desired Width of chaininay bebuilt up, no special links heing required at any part of the chain. Thelinks are such that they can be fitted to practically any chain-gratemechanical stoker and they impart to it the special advantages obtainedby their construction without detracting from other advantages which thegeneral construction of the stoker ma possess.

Another advantage of the hon-construction is that the driving; member,by entering the be and operating on the lugs constituting; one end ofthe hex, in the direction indicated by the arrow at, Fig. 1, only acompressive stress on the links instead of tension. This renders itpossible to use links mime? ot' a smaller section than required when thedriving force puts the links in tension, and, moreover, rendersunnecessary the prevision of special links or series of linl-zs in thegrate for taking the drive from. the sprockets.

Finally, it may be noted that the openings in the fuel-receiving surface(it the stoker consist practically only ot' the linings on the verticaledges of the links and can therefore he prearranged as to their s largeopenings are caused at any i me the amount of fuel lost by dropping they the grate is reduced to a minimum as cor: pared with other types oflink. so

lit will be understood that various modifications niay he made in theprecise deta ils of construction of the link hereinhet'ore described.Thus, for example, the link illustrated may be made all in one pieceinstead of inaltwo pieces, and alternatively it may be foimgd so thatthe air-pockets are each tained wholly in one link instead or i a halfin each of two adjacent links latter form, however, is pltz'l fil'letlas 9O vidcs a more satisfactory means oi supplying air to the fuel.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A link for a. chain-grate stoker coznprising a flat fuel-receivingplate formed with a centrally-disposed dependin lug at one end, opposedside lugs at the other e" and a flange forming a continuation of centrallug and connecting it to the its side lugs, said flange being providcilwith a transverse aperture adjacent the fuel-recei ing plate.

:2. A link for a chain-grate stoker com prising a flat ffuehreceivinn'plate formed with depending lugs so spaced provide an air-pocket on themid, said plate, and a centrally-disposed lia connecting said lugs, theenge of said luQ'J and of said flange remote from the fin being formedwith a concave curve, subs, tially as set forth.

8. In a chain-grate stoker the comhiuat of, links each comprising a flating plate formed with a centra depending lug at one end, oppos side inat the other endand a centrall -disg flange connecting said central hip;to side lugs, said flange being; formed with a transverse apertureadjacent said 'filf-.:l'-Z 11a): ceiving plate and the edge of the lugsand flange remote from the flat plate being: formed with a concavecurve, said links lie-- ing provided with liutings on the verticalsurfaces thereof.

a. A link for a chain-grate stoher prising allat fuel-receiving with acentrally-disposed dcp one end, opposed sidelugs at and a central flangeconnecting s 5. A bar link for a chain graterfitokei" comprising incombination a flat fu'el re- -ceiving plate, a central longitudihaflange depending from the middle of the underside of the said plate andalso continued beyond it as one end of the link and in the form of acentral semi-circular lug formed with a transverse hole adapted toreceive a joint pin and which is of adepth that is the maximum depth ofthe link, and two lugs at the other end of the longitudinal flangeformed with transverse holes adapted to receive a joint pin, andconsisting of two depending side portions of the aforesaid plate lyingat their inner ends against the opposite sides of said central flangeand overlapping only a portion thereof, said depending lugs extendingbeyond the ce'ntralflange assemicircular lugs forming an end of thelink, the opposed faces of said'lugs bein parallel and spaced apart toform a flat-si ed jaw whose vertical dimension is the maximum depth ofthe link and whose cavity is of such size and shape as to receive thecentral lug of a similar companion link.

6. A bar link for. a chain grate stoker comprising inacornbination aflat fuelreceiving plate, a central longitudinal flan e depending fromthe middle of the. un erside of the said plate and also continued beyondit as one end of the link andin the form of a central semi-circular lugformed with a .transverse hole adapted to receive a joint pin and whichis of a depth that is the maximum de th of the link, the bottom of saidcentral iihnge being formed with a concave curve, and two lugs at theother end of the longitudinal flange formed with transverse holesadapted to receive a joint pin,'-and consistin of two depending side'portions of thee oresaid plate lying at thelr inner ends against theopposite sides of said central flange and overlapping only a portionthereof, said depending lugs extending beyond the central flangeassemi-circular lugs forming an end of the link, the opposed faces ofsaid lugs being parallel and spaced apart to form a flat-sided aw whosevertical dimension is the maximum depth of the link and whose cavity isof such size and shape as to receive the central lug of a similarcompanion link.

7. A bar link for a chain grate stoker comprising in combination a flatfuel receiving plate, a central longitudinal flange depending from themiddle of the underside of the said plate and also continued beyond itas one end of the link and in the form of a central semi-circular lugformed with a transverse hole adapted to receive a joint pin and whichis of a depth that is the maximum depth of the link, and two lugs at theother end of the longitudinal flange formed with transverse holesadapted to receive a joint pin, and consisting of two depending .sideportions of the aforesaid plate lying at their inner ends'a'gainst theopposite sides of said central flange and overlapping only a portionthereof, said depending lugs eX- tending beyond the central flange assemicircular lugs forming an end of the link, the opposed faces of saidlugs being parallel and spaced apart to form a fiat-sided jaw Whosevertical dimension is the maximum depth of the link and whose cavity isof such size and shape as to receive the central lug of a similarcompanion link, the link being formed of two halves which aresymmetrical about the longitudinal vertical central plane of the linkand which must upon that plane.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

- WILLIE JAMES COLE.

Witnesses: 1

C. Rrsrcn'r HARRISON, MABEL E. BLIGHT.

